Marijuana politics emerge as 2020 flashpoint

Democratic New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker (left) and Democratic New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (center) have already signed on to a bipartisan medical marijuana bill, and Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul has called for a repeal on the pot prohibition. | Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

The debate over legalization is about to receive a full airing on the presidential campaign trail

By Carla Marinucci | POLITICO

Marijuana legalization just moved from the fringes of the last presidential campaign to center stage in 2020.

Between a sweeping new package of legislation introduced last week by one of the top Democratic presidential prospects and, on the other end of the spectrum, Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ vigorous opposition to recreational use of marijuana, the debate over legalization of cannabis is about to receive a full airing on the presidential campaign trail.